Blog

Day 4 from GC2019 - A Foretaste of Glory Divine

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

(St. Louis) I’m not going to even attempt to explain what happened today. You saw it, read about it.

What happened is what was going to happen. It was baked in the cake by the nature of the delegates present (yes, it matters who we elect to be delegates).

Day 3 from GC2019 - Hearts of Stone

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

Today was a rough day. I knew it would be, which didn’t make it hurt less. 

Going into the last day tomorrow where things will be voted on, the likelihood is that either nothing changes or if it does, it will be the more restrictive language - neither of which is tenable. 

Day 2 from GC2019 - Priorities, Priorities

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

(St. Louis) Short version. Long day.
Prioritizing legislation.

Day 1 from GC2019 - Teach Me How To Pray

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

(St. Louis) The Dome, the place where “The Greatest Show on Turf” once played (led in no small part by the Tigers’ Isaac Bruce), is cavernous. It makes no sense for a gathering of our size to meet in a facility that holds almost 70K people. It’s hard to see everything that’s happening even with view screens. But there we were. 

You Will Not Die

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

(St. Louis)  There’s an unease in the air as you walk into the registration area for the General Conference. As I arrived this afternoon to secure my badge, I noticed some folks I knew from across the Connection. I ran into some of our fellow delegates with pleasantries about our travel, our lodging, and the weather. All looks say what our words don’t - “Well, here we are, what’s about to happen?  

I Choose Love

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

The anthem sung by our choir last Sunday was stunning.  It’s a lyric written by Lindy Thompson with music composed by Mark A. Miller.  You know Mark Miller’s music even if you’re not sure you do.  His is the musical setting for communion we sing.  He wrote “Roll Down, Justice,” which served as a theme for our Lenten series back in 2017.  He’s one of United Methodism’s most gifted composers for the current age.  He also happens to be gay.  Mark has served the Church with his remarkable God-given gifts for many years, and the Church has received his gifts gladly even as it will not receive him in the fullness into which he was created.

Advent 2018 - "Great Expectations"

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

The new Christian year begins this Sunday with the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent precedes the Festival of Christmas as a time of spiritual preparation for the coming of the Christ into the world. That’s just what the word Advent means, “coming, arrival, approach.”

So much of this season is about the things we always do. Tradition is wrapped tightly around Advent/Christmas. We bring out the greenery, the Chrismon tree, the Advent wreath, and those colored candles (it’s rose, not pink!).

Preparing for Advent

By:  Rev'd Mimi White

We are swiftly approaching a magical time of year. With anticipation and wide-eyed wonder, we await the birth of baby Jesus. Saint Francis was the first to recreate this holy event with a nativity scene. He designed this to increase his experience of the nearness of Christ, as a part of worship. Since that time, we have celebrated Jesus’ birth with living nativities, nativity pageants, and miniature displays reenacting the story found in the Gospels.

Called Charge Conference for Nelson Woods

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

Called Charge Conference

Tuesday, November 13, 6:30pm, Room 205

A Charge Conference has been called to vote on the sale of Nelson Woods Retreat Center.

On the Shoulders of Giants - Stewardship 2018

By:  Rev'd Dr. Johnny Jeffords

St. John’s is a community of faith with a long history. We’re grateful for the witness of those who’ve gone before us. It is their stories, and their faithfulness to the mission of the Church in the times in which they lived that gives us this moment for St. John’s to be what it is here and now.